NEWS RELEASE: 2025 New Mexico Teacher of the Year�Lorilei Chavez
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
New Mexico Public Education Department
Janelle Taylor García, Ph.D., janelle.garcia@ped.nm.gov , 505-709-5543
Oct. 31, 2024
2025 New Mexico Teacher of the Year: Lorilei Chavez
BERNALILLO, N.M. — During a surprise announcement at Bernalillo High School (BHS), Public Education Secretary-Designate Mariana Padilla announced today that educator Lorilei Chavez is the 2025 New Mexico Teacher of the Year.
Chavez teaches Native American Studies at BHS. She is from Kewa Pueblo, also known as Santo Domingo Pueblo, and is the first Native American educator to be selected as New Mexico Teacher of the Year.
"Congratulations to Lorilei Chavez on this incredible achievement,” said Public Education Secretary-Designate Mariana Padilla . “Lorilei’s dedication not only inspires her students but honors the rich traditions and wisdom of Native culture in every lesson she shares.”
Chavez has been working in education for over 10 years. She previously served as an Indigenous curriculum instructional coach at Santo Domingo School under a $200,000 Indigenous Education Initiative (IEI) grant. Chavez utilized IEI funds to host culturally and linguistically responsive workshops for staff and develop Pueblo-specific educator pipelines to help educational assistants pursue degrees and certifications. Chavez also taught middle school history at Santo Domingo School from July 2022 to June 2024.
From 2013 to January 2020, Chavez was the school Native American liaison for BHS. In that role, Chavez implemented Native American-based extracurricular programs and collaborated with different Pueblo representatives to support Native American student populations.
Chavez graduated from the University of New Mexico in 2018 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Native American studies and a minor in history. She participated in the New Mexico Public Education Department’s Alternative Teacher Licensure Program from 2018 to 2020.
The New Mexico Oil and Gas Association is the sponsor for the New Mexico Teacher of the Year program and will support the travel needs and professional development opportunities of the winner.
The New Mexico Teacher of the Year award was established in 1963. Each year, all New Mexico school districts and charter schools are invited to nominate an outstanding teacher to become New Mexico’s Teacher of the Year and to represent New Mexico in the National Teacher of the Year competition. New Mexico’s Teacher of the Year also acts as the spokesperson for the state’s teaching profession.
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The New Mexico Public Education Department partners with educators, communities and families to ensure that all students are healthy, secure in their identity and holistically prepared for college, career and life. Currently, NMPED serves about 320,000 students in 189 districts and charter schools. Find an abundance of resources for administrators, educators, families and students at New Mexico Public Education Department (state.nm.us) or follow the NMPED on Facebook and Instagram .
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